Get Your Dealer Log-On and Streamline Your Hale Pet Door Order

April 21, 2011April 21, 2011 Hale Pet Door pet door business, small business

If a cat can use the Dealer Portal to order Hale Pet Doors--so can you! — "It's so easy even a cat can do it" --Fido

Because we value our dealers’ business and know that you are busy and have different needs from our retail customers, we created a special portal on our website. There are two sides to the Hale Pet Door website: what the retail customer sees and the Dealer Portal.

When a dealer signs into the Dealer Portal of the Hale Pet Door website, you see different products than if you’re a retail customer. Some of the additional things you can do are:

Order Wholesale parts
Order Security Barriers
Order Sample Doors
Order In-Glass Pet Doors
Order Kennel Dog Doors
Order Storm Window Replacement Window Pet Doors

The ordering process is also different through the Dealer Portal, and you have options to help your business by:

Automatically receiving your dealer discount to improve your bottom line
Use internal P.O. numbers to track your orders
Use the “Ordered for” field to add your customer’s name
Add comments to orders for custom sizes or other special notes

The Hale Pet Door website is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can order at your convenience—not just during corporate office hours. You can develop quotes for your customers at any time of the day or night. You’ll see your customer’s price and your wholesale cost, so you can determine your profit and create an estimate for your customer.

So use your dealer log-on the next time you order a Hale Pet Door.

If you don’t yet have your log-on, call 888-293-6411 and ask for the IT Website Department, and we’ll get you set up to order through the Hale Pet Door Dealer Portal.

Raincaps and Flashing: Tips & Tricks by Bill Hale

April 7, 2011April 8, 2011 Hale Pet Door cat door installation, dog door installation, install cat door, install dog door, install pet door, pet door installation, wall cat doors, wall dog doors, wall pet doors

Unique Components Set Hale Pet Door’s Wall Model Apart

While I, naturally, believe that Hale Pet Doors are the best pet doors on the market today, there are two parts that set our wall pet doors apart from the others: the flashing and the raincap.

Wall pet door flashing — Flashing under the tunnel keeps water out of the wall

It seems that flashing to keep water out of the wall would be a standard part of every pet door, but it ain’t necessarily so. Proper installation means good caulking around the exterior pet door frame and the house, but the flashing gives another layer of protection to keep water getting into the wall. Check out Step 15 of our online installation instructions for more detailed information.

The Hale Pet Door rain cap keeps water out of the dog door

While a good caulk seal at the top of the exterior pet door frame keeps rain and moisture from getting behind the exterior pet door frame, there are times when a little extra can help when the rain runs down the side of the house where the pet door is installed. The raincap comes standard with all wall pet doors. Generally, if the pet door is installed under a porch roof or other protected place, it’s usually not necessary to install the raincap. But if the dog door is on a wall under a roof and the homeowner regularly hoses down the house walls, it’s a good idea to install the raincap to keep the water out of the pet door. It’s a very simple installation on the exterior pet door frame as it hooks right on top of the frame.

These two simple pieces of bent sheet metal can make a big difference in keeping moisture out of the pet door and the wall where it’s installed.

What’s your experience with these “extras” provided with Hale Pet Door wall models?

New Solution to an Old Installation Problem

April 7, 2011April 8, 2011 Hale Pet Door cat door installation, dog door installation, install cat door, install dog door, install pet door, pet door installation

French Door Pet Doors — Pet Door installations in French Doors are versatile and attractive

Install a Pet Door in a French Door

Installing a dog or cat door in a true French Door can be an attractive and versatile location for the pet entrance. Because the pet door can be installed at different levels from the floor, it can better fit the pet’s leg length which is great for short-legged as well as tall dogs.

Get the Glass Out

One of the most challenging parts of this installation is removing the removable molding from the door in order to remove the glass without breaking it or damaging the door. After cutting the seal of paint or varnish with a razor knife, the standard operating procedure was to pry the molding up with a putty knife until the molding could be removed. For more details see Step 7 of our Installation instructions

Use a Multi-Tool

There’s a new kid on the power tool block that makes quick work of this part of the job. The Multi-Tool is an oscillating tool with changeable heads for different purposes.

Once you determine that you have a true French Door with wood stops, you can use the Multi-Tool with a fine tooth blade to cut through the adhesive that holds the molding on the glass. Use window cleaner to keep the glass wet, so it doesn’t get scratched. After you’ve cut through that adhesive, you can carefully use the Multi-Tool along the frame side of the molding to break that adhesive seal as well.

There’s probably a myriad of ways to use this handy tool that is now readily available in a wide range of prices. Here’s a helpful article that compares several brands ProTool Reviews

Thanks to Eric Baldwin of Desert Star Pet Doors Desert Star Pet Doors.com for sharing this installation tip.

If you have found a new tool (or a new way to use an old tool) to help you install pet doors, please comment below with your tip.

Marketing on the Web: with or without a Website

March 24, 2011April 8, 2011 Hale Pet Door internet marketing, pet door business, small business

WebMuted3 — Connect with your customers on the web

These days, it seems like you can’t be in business without a website, but for many start-ups, it’s the one thing that can be put off until some money starts flowing in.

So what can you do? Well, there are many marketing opportunities on the Internet that don’t require technical know-how or big bucks. If you can find a website and fill out some forms, you’ll have a presence on the Internet without the expense of ads or a website.

Add Your Business to these Directories for Free

Check out the directories below that encourage you to add your business – even if you don’t have a website. There are pet related sites in this list as well as general local business listings. And remember, this is only a place to start, there are more places on the Internet to create a presence for your customers to find you.

Market Socially

There are some businesses that take social marketing so seriously that they create their Facebook business pages and get active on Twitter before they build a website.

It’s a great time to be starting or growing a business with all these free local marketing opportunities.

We’ve been very pleased with the exposure these lists and directories have given us. What’s been your experience with listing on these or other directories?

Tips & Tricks by Bill Hale – Best Product for Installing Carpet in Wall Pet Doors

March 2, 2011March 2, 2011 Hale Pet Door cat door installation, dog door installation, install cat door, install dog door, install pet door, pet door installation, wall cat doors, wall dog doors, wall pet doors cat door installation, dog door installation, pet door installation

Use caulk to attach carpet to tunnel

Best Product for Installing Carpet in Pet Door Wall Tunnels

Over the years, I’ve discovered that different installers like various products to adhere the carpet to the metal tunnels for wall model pet doors. And unlike most situations, in this case the best solution is the cheapest.

Because the Hale Pet Door flaps close so securely, it’s important to use a mastic that doesn’t outgas and potentially harm the pet that uses the pet door. Silicone is a great sealant, but unfortunately, creates toxic gases as it cures.

The best product that I’ve found is the most inexpensive latex caulk that you can buy. It dries quickly and completely, so you know that your installation is finished before you leave the job. It’s non-toxic as it cures and when it’s dry, so there’s no danger of pet inhalation.

So leave the expensive caulk for sealing the outside frame at the top and sides to the exterior house wall, and your customers’ pets and your bottom line will thank you.

For detailed installation instructions for the wall model pet door including pictures and diagrams, visit the halepetdoor.com website installation page. Specific instructions for attaching the carpet are included in step 21.

Are You Missing Out on this Easy Way to Improve Cash Flow?

March 1, 2011March 2, 2011 Hale Pet Door cat doors, dog doors, pet doors cat door business, dog door business, pet door business

It’s true that Hale Pet Door is committed to selling the highest quality, easiest to install pet doors around the world. We know that you are committed to the highest quality of service for your customers and that is why you are a Hale Pet Door dealer.

We’re all in this to make a profit, however, and your dealer discount is the quickest way for you to increase your cash flow. When you purchase a Hale Pet Door for your customer, you’ll receive your discount which will give you an immediate profit when your customer pays full price for the pet door.

Quick and Easy Ordering on HalePetDoor.com

When you log in to halepetdoor.com with your dealer log in, you’ll be on your way to instant profits. You can fill in your customer’s name and address, so we’ll have their information in the rare case that there’s a warranty issue with their Hale Pet Door. You can also note a P.O. number for your job tracking.

If you don’t yet have a log-in, please call Mysia at 888-293-6411, and she’ll get you set up.

You can have the pet door shipped to you or directly to your customer – it’s your choice.

So, start improving your bottom line today by ordering Hale Pet Door products for your customers.

Have You Seen the New Pet Door Security Covers?

February 28, 2011March 2, 2011 Hale Pet Door cat door security cover, cat doors, dog door security cover, dog doors, pet door security cover, pet doors

Four colors of Starboard covers coordinate with our four frame colors

Although Lexan® polycarbonate covers had been the standard Hale Pet Door security covers for years, in May 2010 marine grade polymer was added to the cover choices.

After six months of extensive testing in all types of climates, we determined that this marine grade polymer material was superior to polycarbonate because of its scratch resistance and color choices.

Lexan® security covers are still available in the standard translucent gray color.

The marine grade polymer colors are black, dolphin gray, sanshade tan and white. These color choices help the customer to match or contrast with their wall colors and are designed to coordinate with the dark bronze, brushed aluminum, Arizona beige and white frame colors.

Getting a Handle on Security

Another improvement for the security covers is the new handle. Although the finger hole opening was performing well, we discovered these attractive pewter colored metal handles, tried them with great success and have made them standard on all the security covers.

Some Things Should Stay the Same

The positive action pin lock that has been standard for years works so well that we haven’t made any changes. We’ve been very pleased with this lock’s performance. Our customers are happy with it with its position on the frame and the positive action that safely secures the cover.

If you would like to order a new Starboard cover for your sample door or if one of your customers would like an upgraded cover, please click here to order.

Welcome to Hale Pet Door Dealer News

February 15, 2011March 2, 2011 Hale Pet Door Uncategorized

In an effort to keep our dealers informed of product improvements and other news, we’re launching a blog created exclusively for our dealers – Hale Pet Door Dealer News.

When you read or subscribe to this blog, you’ll receive brief useful articles about